ABSTRACT
These minors and weaklings were succeeded by other minors who were just as great weaklings. Theodosius II, who in 408 replaced his father Arcadius, was seven years old. He was brought up by his sister Pulcheria with the greatest care. He was well educated, morally pure in the midst of the vices of his century, and comparatively humane. Physically he was better than his father; he was tall and fair, being of German origin, since his mother, Kudoxia, was the daughter of the Frank Bauto. Morally he was a bigot, utterly devoid of character and so lazy that he did not even read the Imperial Constitutions which have made his name immortal. There is not a single act which was due to his personal initiative in a reign lasting forty-two years (408-450). In the end, he drove away his wife, disgraced his sister and came under the power of the eunuchs. He spent his time in copying and illuminating manuscripts. He was surnamed the “ Calligrapher ” .
